Kawerau earthquake swarm & earthquake preparedness
News
Many of you will be aware of the Kawerau earthquake swarm that began over the weekend.
GNS Science has said more than 780 earthquakes have been recorded in the swarm that began on Saturday. They’ve advised a swarm is the term used to describe earthquakes of a similar size that are clustered together in space and time, and that they are not unusual.
The current swarm is keeping with historic activity in the region and GNS Science believe it is due to the movement of active faults and not related to volcanic unrest or geothermal activity.
Though there is no scientific way to know for sure, GNS Science have said the most likely scenario is that activity will decrease over the next few days. Nevertheless, these situations can be very unsettling and it’s a good idea to check on friends and whānau who may be feeling anxious about the situation and to let people know if you are feeling stressed.
This activity is a timely reminder that earthquakes can happen anywhere and anytime, and it is always best to be prepared and have an emergency plan in place.
Personal preparedness
Ensure you have a supply of water and food at home in case you need to stay put for a while, that you have access to a battery or windup radio and torches in case you lose power, and that you have thought about how you would check on whānau and where you would meet up if you had to evacuate. To ensure your whānau and household is prepared for an emergency, visit - www.civildefence.govt.nz/get-ready/prepared-for-an...
There is also good advice about how to prepare and protect your home in the case of an earthquake here - www.eqc.govt.nz/be-prepared. It is important to fix and secure shelving, bookcases and anything that may topple over and injure someone during an earthquake.
What to do during an earthquake:
What do we mean by ‘safe at home?’
After a major quake or other event, council and civil defence teams will update residents with key information via social media, radio, and any other means possible.